I Have a Gratitude Attitude

Jason and Matthew

Emotions have been up, down and all around for the last few days.

First of all, we are thankful for our son-in-law's safe arrival home from his Army Reserve humanitarian mission in Honduras. He was gone a month doing construction work there on a base and helping the Honduran people with some projects.

He arrived home in the very early morning hours of Sunday, the same day as our grandson's baptism. We celebrated Matthew's special day by attending church together with lots of family members and then eating far too well at lunch afterwards. Matt is such a happy, little boy who likes to laugh ...and eat.

Today we had the great news from the doctors at Cleveland Clinic that our son's MRI shows stable - no growth or negative change. We praise God for that news! See Jason's website for his story and to leave a message: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/teamjason We appreciate, more than we can express, all the prayers that have gone out for him and the family.

On Friday, he and his wife celebrated their 5th anniversary and tomorrow (Tues) Jim and I mark our 36th year of marriage. I think back in 1973, I spent $50 for a wedding dress, did my own hair, sewed one of the bridesmaid's dresses and my mom served up a little buffet dinner after the wedding. It was a pretty simple event, but it seems to have taken!

(This post originally appeared on the Elling Family News on June 8, 2009.)